Annesley's thoughts raced through her head and would not stop. Knight did not speak. He was waiting with outward patience for her decision.
It seemed that she would never know what to say. She was about to tell him in despair that she must have the rest of the day to make up her mind, but before she could speak Parker knocked at the door.
"I'll go with you," the girl said, hastily. "On the ship. But after that——"
Parker knocked again.
"Come in!" called Annesley.
"Thank you," Knight said, getting up from his chair near her bed.
"Don't thank me. I——"
But Parker had opened the door. All that was conventional and agreeably commonplace in the lives of happy, well-to-do people seemed to enter the room with her.